As a result, the conch shell becomes a powerful symbol of civilization and order. ... (pg.89) Simon's statement that the boys themselves are the beast is central to the novel's theme of innate human evil. ... This complicated symbol becomes the most important image in the novel when Simon confronts it in the glade and it seems to speak to him, telling him that evil lies within every human heart and promising to have some "fun" with him. ... In this way, the Lord of the Flies becomes both a physical manifestation of the beast, a symbol of the power of evil, and a kind of satanic figur...

• Word Count: 1246
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Many themes and symbols related and leading to evil can be found in this story, such as: the black box, blindly following tradition and customs, stoning, hypocrisy..." ... The black color denotes death, and the box revolves around all the evil that is done. This box primarily symbolizes mystery, but later on through the story we can clearly see that it is a perfect example of the overall theme of the story - a symbol of evil, leading to doom and death. ... They will do incredibly evil and cruel things just for the sake of keeping a routine. This story supports the idea that everybody hides the...

• Word Count: 1240
• Approx Pages: 5

The many of the symbols in this book deal with sin, punishment and redemption. ... While the scarlet letter seems to be an important symbol, it seems insignificant compared to Pearl who functions as a live symbol and a reminder of Hester's past. Even though Pearl served many purposes in this book, her primary function was as a symbol. ... Also, Hawthorne has Pearl protect her mother from further evil as he states "Even thus early had the child saved her [Hester] from Satan's snare." ... The prison symbolizes the evil of society and the rusted iron door tells the readers that crime is...

• Word Count: 843
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The whole act of sucking the blood out is the symbol of endearing energy, the source of nourishment for evil force. ... Coming back to previously mentioned vision, the evil side is gaining energy and the act of sucking becomes only a symbol. ... As without the good, there would not be the evil, just like without the light there would not be the darkness. ... Firstly, let's look at this act as a symbol of an energetic vampire, who needs to gain energy because is unable to keep its own energy. ... The evil is triumphant just like in Jacopo Ligozzi's "Death Exterminating the Human Race-...

• Word Count: 1451
• Approx Pages: 6

Conrad uses this contrast to enhance the theme of innate evil and every man. ... Europeans have a clear and working government, and its society is the symbol of productivity and modernism. ... Conrad as many different levels of his meaning, that every man harbors a sense of hate and evil. ... The theme is that every man as evil but in a controlled situation, such as Europe, this evil is usually repressed. Africa allows for the release of this evil and the primitive nature of man. ...

• Word Count: 379
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

In every human being, there is a part that is definitely savage and evil as well as a part that is undoubtedly conscientious and good. ... After many days on a deserted island with no adults, which meant no way of enforcing authority, Jack's tribe, representing evilness and savagery, destroyed the last traces of civilization when confronted with Ralph's group, who represents law, order and democracy. Without the enforcement of law and order, the evil side of human takes charge and the society tend to slide towards chaos and savagery. ... In the process, Roger, the symbol for the...

• Word Count: 627
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The Large Ant, by Howard Fast, uses the act of murder and human nature to explore the ratio of good and evil. ... In the story, Fast uses the symbol of the ant to express how physical appearances and human impulses can lead people to act on their instincts when faced with sudden confrontation. In this story, the insect serves as a symbol to convey how the idea of the unknown will elicit fear in a person. ... This is because the insect serves as a symbol for the general idea of something unknown to the character, and ultimately, people. ... When one analyzes the lack of physical description of ...

• Word Count: 822
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

These things are known as allegories, because they are symbols that stand for the truths about human life. ... William Golding uses religious allegory to unveil the truth about evil within all humans and bases the idea off of the struggle between Christ and the Devil, otherwise understood as good and evil. ... The evil within man is shown through Jack who is quickest to bare his animalistic and savage ways and untie his strings with civilization. ... In addition to the boy's illustration of true human nature, Jack and his tribe fully give themselves over to evil. They leave the sow's...

• Word Count: 3388
• Approx Pages: 14
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The most important theme in To Kill a Mockingbird is the one of good and evil. It explores whether people are either good or evil. ... The combination of the two motifs also combines the forces of good and evil. For example, the rabid dog is depicted as the evil and Atticus the good, even though Atticus kills which is evil he does it to save the town. ... Boo Radley is one of the most important symbols in this book. ...

• Word Count: 1026
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Next is the trials and victory stage where they prove their worth and choose between good and evil. ... For Campbell he wrote "she is also the death of everything that dies" the female can either be good or evil in the adventure. ... Despite their roles they do represent a strong symbol for the hero. ... A male character who encounters a female figure, either portraying good or evil, a goddess or even a motherly symbol, in order to develop their maturity. ...

• Word Count: 1102
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Legalism believed that human nature was evil and individuals were disciplined by laws, where rewards and punishments were enforced. ... Therefore, the Legalists, "recommended terrible punishments for those who refused to obey the power. " The most essential principle of legalism was that humans were naturally evil and inclined toward unlawful and self-centered behavior. ... There was no total good and evil or negative and positive. The Yin-Yang symbol exemplified this view of unity. ... This symbol portrayed that within the Yang there existed the Yin and vice versa which caused the balance ...

• Word Count: 1267
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The other boys are the only symbol of sanity on the island. ... In away it reminds me of the endless struggle between good (Jack) and evil (Ralph). ... In the end, he discovers the true source of evil, the Lord of the Flies, and is later betrayed by his friends. ... They cannot let greed control their every action and thought so that it corrupts them into acting on an evil purpose. ...

• Word Count: 882
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Christianity has swiftly taken the hearts of many who have devoted their lives to living in its teachings. As the first author in the collection of essays "From Jesus to Christ," Helmut Koester writes: " for a human being to be related to something that is beyond the powers of this world was certain...

• Word Count: 460
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

According to "The Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature", the black color stands for " chaos, mystery, death evil, melancholy"(pp 161); therefore, an evil sad mysterious secret is hidden behind this black veil. ... Throughout the analysis of symbols and psychological concepts of Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil", it is clear now that shame was one of the reasons why Minister Parson Hopper decided to wear a black for the rest of his life. The explanation of symbols reinforce the idea of a device that helps to cover secrets that can not be revealed to anyone. ...

• Word Count: 1035
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Critic Aurélie Guillain, Professor of American Literature at University of Toulouse, refers to Aylmer as "becom[ing] gradually convinced that the red mark on his wife's skin is the symbol of the innate depravity of human flesh" (49). ... Although the birthmark may be perceived as a beautiful feature or as a flaw, this birthmark is a symbol of humanity and all of humanity's imperfection that may or may not be criticized by others. ... People from throughout the village of Salem all gather for the evil ceremony. ... Brown sympathizes with the sinners in the forest by...

• Word Count: 1568
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The reader is faced with choices of good vs. evil, past vs. present, and accepting life vs. ignoring death. ... (Faulkner, 189) The reader is then faced with deciding to feel empathy for Emily because of her upbringing or condemning her because she knew the difference between good and evil. ... This symbol further agitates the reader as they can picture their own personal clock endlessly ticking away. ... The reader must decide how they feel about Emily's choice of good or evil. ...

• Word Count: 1240
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Humans are naturally inclined to act in an evil way therefore the created world is not perfect. ... No one is destined to be good or evil. ... I agree that the world is genuinely good and that evil is only materialized through the wrongdoings of the human race. ... Creation is not evil by nature: but it is what we do with it that affects its outcome for humanity. ... Everything tangible part of our world is a symbol of God's presence. ...

• Word Count: 1680
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Explain the thematic significance of the water and fish symbols. 2. ... This means conscious recognition of evil as well as goodness, failure as well as possibility, hate as well as love, limitation as well as freedom, and the importance of emotion as well as reason. ...

• Word Count: 789
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Throughout the history of the myth and the ways is has been explicated for modern interpretation, it has been argued that Medusa actually serves as the quintessential representative of "the Other" and that she is an example of the duplicity that exists in every woman since one of the great Athena's own symbols was that of snakes. ... Travis and Barlowe (1995) make note of the fact that in the "original" myth of Ovid, Perseus "seeks the power of Medusa's evil eye, which is the ability to arrest, immobilize, and make statues of others" (pp. 47). ... As a result, the symbols through wh...

• Word Count: 1572
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Crossroads are a traditional symbol of choice in literature which makes sense. ... Also, referring to the dialog of the second messenger from the excerpt on page 73, he said "Evil not done unconsciously, but willed. ...

• Word Count: 1032
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Nazism and art. Can these two themes be combined to create a high quality movie? Possibly. That is what director Istvan Szabo did. He directed the movie Mephisto in 1981, a movie about the life of a German actor during Nazi's rule pre-World War II. The movie was based on Klaus Mann's novel with the...

• Word Count: 3223
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

This poem is about the child praying to his mother, God and society to make the world a better place for him to live in without the current hazards. The child represents society and so when he says "I fear the human race", he is showing that he is afraid of his own kind and of himself, "me", the mo...

• Word Count: 2163
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School